Recently,
millions of average U.S. stepfamily mates
have
re/divor-ced psychologically or legally. One reason is needy,
unaware people re/ marrying an alluring partner with well-hidden psychological burdens and/or with
troubled,
unaware ex mate/s and existing children. One or more of these people have a mix of
psychological
wounds +
blocked or incomplete
grief
from prior
losses +
ineffective communication
skills + undeveloped relationship
skills +
unawareness and ignorance. Usually, courtship
needi-ness, distortions, and "good behavior" mask or minimize these major problems - or courting adults
don't want to acknowledge these deficits and what they mean: high
odds of eventual re/divorce.

Wounded, needy adults dazed by new romantic love are at high risk of ignoring,
minimizing, or denying these hazards and re/wedding "any-way." Few
supporters or officiating
clergy are aware of these problems or how to
assess for them. Even if fiancÚs choose the right people (with few of
these problems), wounds + ignorance may cause them to commit at the wrong
time, for the wrong
reasons.

Lesson 7
offers courting partners a way to assess whether they're making three wisecommitment choicesfor themselves and any depen-dents. The
unique related guidebook is Stepfamily Courtship.